Device for testing safety ski bindings

ABSTRACT

DEVICE FOR TESTING THE OPERATION OF HEEL AND TOE SAFETY SKI BINDINGS BY CAUSING EITHER ONE OF THE BINDINGS TO OPERATE UNDER A PRESSURE OR TRACTIVE EFFORT EXERTED ON THE SKI BOOT RETAINED BY THE BINDING. THIS IS ACHIEVED BY MEANS OF AN ACTUATING MEMBER ADAPTED TO ACT UPON THE BOOT AND CONNECTED TO MEANS WHEREBY THE MAGNITUDE OF THE EFFORT EXERTED ON THE BOOT CAN BE MEASURED.

n Nova 23, 1971 J. J. A, BIEYL 3,621,112

DEVICE FOR TESTING SAFETY SKI BINDINGS Filed July 22, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet l Ju n .TMt Al/v jo n Mum/6;!

Nov. 23, 1971 J. J. A. BEYL 3,521,712

DEVICE FOR TESTING SAFETY SKI BINDINGS Filed July 22, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 23, 19 J. J. A. BEYL DEVICE FOR TESTING SAFETY SKI BINDINGS 5 ShoetsSheet 5 Filed July 22, 1969 Nov, 23, 1971 J. J. A. BEYL DEVICE FOR TESTING SAFETY SKI BINDINGS E5 Sheets-Sheet 4,

Filed July 22, 1969 w n wr y-meuff,

Nov. 23, 1971 J. J. A. BEYL 3,621Jl2 DEVICE FOR TESTING SAFETY SKI BINDINGS Filed July 22, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 \Z d n 0A A/ANL ,un/r e United States Patent 3,621,712 DEVICE FOR TESTING SAFETY SKll BINDINGS Jean losephAlfred Beyl, Boulevard Victor Hugo, Nevers, Nievre, lFrance Filed July 22, 1969, Ser. No. 843,323

Claims priority, application France, Aug. 6, 1968,

162,053 Int. Cl. G011 /03 US. Cl. 73--133 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DHSCILOSURE This invention relates to apparatus for testing the operation of safety ski bindings.

Devices of this type are already known which are designed with a view to cause the operation of the ski binding to be tested by exerting a pressure or a tractive effort on the ski boot retained by the binding. Therefore, these devices permit reproduction of the conditions necessary for normally causing the ski binding to become operative and release the ski boot.

Some of these presently known testing devices comprise one or a plurality of movable members adapted to act upon the ski boot via a movable element carrying a graduated scale and bearing against a spring.

During the testing operation, this element is thus caused to move in relation to the spring against which it reacts. Under these conditions, the graduation lines carried by said element show the magnitude of the eifort required for causing the safety ski binding to release the boot.

However, the known devices are not fully satisfactory. In fact, clue to the use of one or a plurality of springs, their precision is questionable and after a number of testing operations the data supplied by these devices are inaccurate due to the natural fatigue of the spring material.

Other devices are provided with one or a plurality of movable control members actuated by means of hydraulic cylinder-and-piston units. Thus, by using a simple pressure gauge, the user can check the magnitude of the pressure exerted when the ski binding releases the boot. However, devices pertaining to this second type are relatively complicated for they actually incorporate two separate measuring and testing apparatuses for ascertaining on the one hand the operation of a toe-end device holding the ski boot against rotation and on the other hand the operation of a heel-holding device, usually of the hold-down type. t

It is therefore an essential object of this invention. to provide a device permitting of making accurate measurements of the same order of precision as the apparatus of the second type mentioned hereinabove, but so designed that it can be used for testing both the operation of a toe-end element and the operation of a heel hold- I down element of a ski binding.

This device is characterized essentially in that a hydraulic bellows is interposed between members for applying a force to the ski boot and the means controlling the actuation of these members, said bellows being connected to a pressure gauge, whereby the operation of the ski binding being tested can be visualized directly during the test.

According to another feature characterizing this device, the aforesaid hydraulic bellows is carried by a support so mounted as to be movable at right angles to the major axis of a berth provided for mounting the ski during testing, and the force applying member intended to act upon the toe of the ski boot to test the toe binding consists of a push member rigid with one face of said bellows and adapted to cause a pressure to be exerted laterally against the boot for eventually causing the release thereof from the toe end of the ski binding. Mechanical drive means are provided for moving the support on which the bellows is mounted towards the boot so that said push member can be caused to press the side of the ski boot.

To measure the force necessary to release the heel binding, a bell-crank lever is fulcrumed about a horizontal pivot pin carried by a bracket, one end of a first arm of said bell-crank lever engaging directly or indirectly one face of said hydraulic bellows while the other arm extending above the boot-receiving; berth carries a strap or any other suitable element adapted to be anchored, attached or secured to or under the boot heel for lifting same and thus cause the release of the heel hold-down means of the safety ski binding to be tested.

Thus, the hydraulic bellows incorporated in the safety ski binding testing device of this invention is associated with two separate control members, i.e. on the one hand a push member adapted to cause a pressure to be exerted laterally against the ski boot for rotating same in a horizontal plane, and on the other hand a pivoting twoarmed lever adapted to exert an upward tractive effort on the heel portion of the boot for releasing the heel hold-down device of the binding.

Other features and advantages of this invention will appear as the following description proceeds with reference to the attached drawing by way of illustration. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the testing device of this invention during the testing of a rotary toe-end abutment device of a safety ski binding;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line lI-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plane view from above showing the same testing device but from which some component elements have been removed in order to simplify the drawing;

FIGS. 4 and S are corresponding sectional and elevational views showing the same device at the beginning of the. testing operation and during this operation, respectively;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are an end elevational view and a vertical section respectively of a modified form of embodiment of the testing device of this invention, and

FIG. 8 is a section taken along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 6.

The testing device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawing comprises a rigid table or bed 1 to which all the component elements of the device are secured. Two

separate but contiguous and parallel locations or berths are provided on this table 1 for receiving the ski 2 on which are mounted the bindings to be tested. These two berths are separated from each other by vertical studs 3 adapted to facilitate the proper positioning of the ski thereon. The ski is adapted to be placed on one or the other of said berths, depending on whether the operation of the rotary abutment device 4 retaining the toe end of the boot 5 on the ski or the operation of the heel hold-down device 6 is to be tested. Both berths are equipped with suitable means 7 for holding the ski in position on the table 1.

The testing device proper is mounted on the table 1. This device comprises a slide 8 movable along a pair of horizontal slideways 9 extending across the axis of the ski 2. The movement of this slide 8 is obtained in either direction by means of a screw 10 carrying a control handwheel 11 at its outer end.

Screw 10 engages a tapped hole formed in a fixed bracket 12 and has its opposite end mounted for free rotation in a small bearing case 13. Bearing case 13 is rigidly connected through horizontal rods 14 to the slide 8.

Enclosed in the slide 8 is a movable member 15 carrying a push member 16 adapted to engage and exert a lateral pressure against the side of the ski boot 5 as the movable member 15 and slide 8 travel in the direction of the arrow F. Member 15 is rigidly connected to one of the end faces of a bellows 17 which is also housed within said slide 8. This bellows 17 is filled with oil or other hydraulic fluid. For best results, this fluid should be insensitive or nearly insensitive to temperature and also to moderate variations in the atmospheric pressure. To measure the lateral pressure applied through the bellows, the inner chamber of slide 8 is connected via a rigid pipe line 18 to a pressure gauge 19 which is in turn secured to a bracket 20 rigid with the slide 8.

The movable member 15 is also operatively connected to one end of a bell-crank lever 21 having suspended from its opposite end a traction strap 22 adapted to be fitted under the heel of the ski boot. Bell-crank lever 21 is fulcrumed about a horizontal pivot pin 23 carried by a bracket 24. In the inoperative position, one arm of this lever extends substantially horizontally above the ski berths. In this case the other arm is nearly vertical and has its lower end engated in a recess 25 provided in the movable member 15.

With this arrangement, horizontal movement of the movable member 15, resulting from the movement of slide 8 in the direction of arrow F, can be converted into an upward tractive effort exerted on the heel of the ski boot through the medium of said strap 22.

It will be noted that the two arms of bell-crank lever 21 may have unequal lengths in order to provide an adequate multiplication of the stress exerted on the heel portion of the ski boot.

Preferably, the traction strap 22 is attached to the corresponding end of the bell-crank lever 21 by means permitting the adjustment of its useful level or height. These means may consist of a detachable hook carried by a screw-threaded rod 26 engaging a nut 27 rigid with the two upper ends of the side arms of strap 22.

The above-described testing device operates as follows:

(1) Testing the operation of the toe-end abutment device of a ski boot binding In this case the corresponding ski 2 is laid on the berth nearest to the testing equipment, by interposing a shim 28 between the table 1 and the ski 2, with the toe end of the boot positioned slightly ahead of the lateral push mem ber 16 (see FIG. 3).

The pointer of the pressure gauge 19 is in each case reset to zero by depressing a reset button 19a provided for this purpose. After this is done, the slide 8 is moved in the direction of the arrow F to apply a force to the rotary abutment device 4. The lateral force so applied approximates the type of stress which the rotary abutment device 4 would be expected to encounter in the field, thereby permitting a rather simple check of the release force of the rotary abutment device.

The linear movement of slide '8 towards the ski boot is obtained by rotating the screw 10 by means of the handwheel 11 in the proper direction. During this movement, the push member 16 is caused to engage the relevant side of the sole of boot 5.

The movement of slide 8 is transmitted to the movable member 15 and push member 16 through the hydraulic bellows 17. Under these conditions, the resistance produced by the rotary abutment device 4 causes the bellows to be compressed and the pressure with in slide 8 to increase, thereby causing the pressure gauge pointer to move along the graduation of the pressure gauge dial. This movement is therefore proportional to the reaction exerted against the push member 16 as the latter is pressed against the boot 5.

By continuing the movement of slide 8 in the direction of the arrow F, it is possible to exert on the booth a lateral thrust suflicient to cause the release of the toe end abutment device 4. By simply reading the value indicated by the pressure gauge pointer on its dial when this release takes place, the operator can measure with precision the magnitude of the resistance or reaction force exerted by this abutment device on the toe 'of the boot at that time.

However, the device of this invention permits performing many other tests for ascertaining the proper operation of the toe end rotary abutment device 4 and for modifying its setting, if necessary. Thus:

(a) Since the hydraulic bellows 17 instantaneously transmits pressure changes to the pressure gauge 19, the retaining effort produced by the abutment device can be read at any time on the dial of said pressure gauge, so that a continuous check of binding operation is permitted;

(b) However, the movement of push member 16 can be stopped at any moment for checking the force required for releasing the toe end of the ski boot;

(c) In the case of a resilient ski binding of the type disclosed and illustrated for example in the US. Pat. 3,027,173 the reaction force of this binding can be checked at any time;

(d) With this device any possible faulty operation of certain safety ski bindings, such as the presence of hard spots or on the contrary of easy spots, can be detected without difficulty;

(e) During the testing procedure the operator can perform impact tests, that is, cause a sudden and relatively high pressure to be exerted against the side of the boot by means of the push member '16 for ascertaining whether this pressure is likely to cause an untimely or premature release before the normal release position is attained;

(f) The testing device itself can be checked before each actual testing operation by resetting the pointer of pressure gauge 19 to zero;

(g) Since the device of this invention is free of any spring, the ski boot is not suddenly ejected when the binding is caused to release same, as observed in some prior art devices;

(h) This testing device can be subjected to severe and intensive use without impairing its precision, in contrast to testing apparatus utilizing springs the characteristics of which generally deteriorate after a certain period of use.

2. Testing the operation of the heel hold-down device of the ski boot binding This testing procedure is performed by placing the ski 2 on the other berth provided on the table 1, that is, along the shim 28 in lieu of on the shim itself. In this case the ski must be positioned slightly forward of its position in the preceding case so that the boot heel lies substantially vertically beneath the outer end of the bell-crank lever 21.

After having fastened the ski 2 on the table 1 by means of the fastening devices 7, the operator places the traction strap 22 under the boot heel and then sets the heel hold-down device '6 of the ski binding to its normal operative position. It is then only necessary to move again the slide 8 in the direction of the arrow F for performing the testing operation by simply rotating the control handwheel 11 and therefore the screw 10 in the proper direction. In fact, the axial movement of slide 8 is; attended by the pivoting movement of the bellcrank lever 21 and thus an upward tractive effort is exerted on the boot heel through the medium of traction strap 22. 'As the movement of slide 8 proceeds, the heel is lifted against the resistance of its hold-down or retaining device 6 (see FIG.

The tractive effort is continued until the heel retaining device 6 will release the heel.

During the above-described testing procedure, the pressure gauge 19 shows the magnitude of the resistance provided by the retaining device 6, so that the operator knows this magnitude exactly at the time of actual heel release, thus permitting adjustment of the setting of the retaining member 6 if necessary.

With this second testing procedure, the operator can perform te'sts similar to those performed when checking the condition of the toe-end abutment device. In this respect, it is obvious that the device according to the present invention is characterized by the same advantageous features as those disclosed hereinabove.

The device of this invention is also advantageous in that it permits performing the two -testing operations described hereinabove by using the same testing means, in contrastfto hitherto known apparatus of this character which comprise as a rule two separate testing devices, one for testing the front or toe-end abutment device and another for testing the heel hold-down device.

However, as far as the testing of the rear or heel hold-down'device 6 is concerned, the proportion existing between the lengths of the two arms of the bell-crank lever 21 must be taken into account for properly interpreting the data read on the dial of the pressure gauge 19.

If desired, the apparatus of the instant invention may be designed with a view to avoiding the necessity for mounting the ski successively on two different locating berths for performing the two testing operations contemplatedfTo this end, the push member 16 may be somewhat longer so that the testing of the toe-end abutmen't device 4 can take place at the same place as the testing of the heel hold-down device 6. However, in this case the push member 16 is detachable or retractable.

On the other hand, the movement of slide 8 may be controlled by using mechanical drive means other than the screw 10.

FIGS. 6 to 8 illustrate a typical and modified embodiment of the testing device of this invention wherein the movement of the movable bellows supporting member is produced by pulling a pivoting hand lever 30. The pivot pin'3 1 on which this lever 30 is mounted carries a toothed wheel or segment 32 meshing with a rack 33 carried by the movable support 8a of the hydraulic bellows 17a.

Otherwise, the general arrangement and mode of operation of this device are similar to those of the previously-described device. Therefore, the component elements of this device, which are similar to or identical with some of the component elements of the previous arrangement are designated by the same reference numeral in these figures, with in addition the index letter a.

Thus, this device comprises a push member 16a adapted to exert the lateral test pressure against the ski boot 5a. This push member is detachably mounted in the support "8:: of the hydraulic bellows. When this push member is in its operative position (see FIG. 8) it engages a recess 15a formed in the movable support 8a guided by a pair of lateral guide members 9a. In this position the inner end of this push member, which is positioned in the bottom of this recess, registers with a roller 36 carried by a yoke 37 provided at the lower end of the substantially vertical arm of the bell-crank lever 21a which, as in the preceding case, is adapted to be actuated for exerting an upward tractive effort on the boot heel.

The roller 36 carried by the lower end of this lever arm engages the registering face of bellows 17a. The opposite end of this bellows is connected via a pipe line 18a to a measuring pressure gauge 19a.

As in the preceding examples, the bell-crank lever 21a is fulcrumed about a horizontal pivot pin 23a carried by a fixed bracket 24a. The free end of the substantially horizontal arm of this bell-crank lever 21a carries a hook 34 from which a strap adapted to exert the aforesaid upward tractive effort on the heel of boot 5a can be suspended. This strap may consist, if desired, of a tape or belt 35 attached to the ends of a yoke or bow 27a.

This yoke 27a carries a central vertical screw 26a having a head shaped to permit the suspension thereof from the hook 34. Thus, the initial tension exerted by the traction strap or tape 35 can be adjusted by turning the screw 26a in the proper direction.

This device operates in a manner similar to the preceding one, except that its actuation is controlled by simply pulling the hand lever 30 in the direction of the arrow F Of course, the movable support of the hydraulic bellows may be driven from and through means other than those disclosed and illustrated herein, for example by using a motor, this solution being advantageous in that it provides a constant rate of feed or speed of the aforesaid movable support.

Finally, it will readily occur to those conversant with the art that many modifications and variations may be brought to the specific forms of embodiment of the present invention which are shown and described herein, without departing from the basic principle and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device for testing and measuring the release force of both heel and toe ski release bindings with a ski boot in place in said bindings, comprising a stationary frame, a berth on said frame for positioning the ski thereon, slide means for applying force to the heel and toe of said boot respectively, said slide means comprising a hydraulic bellows member for measuring the force applied by the slide means and a cylinder, said bellows member being mounted in said cylinder, means for measuring the force applied to said bellows, first and second members for applying a force to the toe and heel portions of said boot respectively, said first and second members being operated by unidirectional movement of said slide means, and actuating means for moving said slide means along said frame towards the ski boot to selectively dislodge the said boot from one or the other said bindings, said slide means being slidable in a plane parallel to the said berth and normal to the ski axis.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the first member comprises a pusher rod extending in the sliding direction of the slide means and in a plane parallel to the ski boot sole, said first member being mounted on said slide means and being adapted to contact the toe end of the boot sole, said second member comprising a bell-crank lever, said lever being fulcrumed about a horizontal pivot pin which is carried parallel to the ski axis on a bracket mounted on the stationary frame, the first inner end of said bell-crank lever being situated between the slide means and the boot and the second outer end of that bellcrank lever overlying the ski berth of the device and comprising a lifter loop for engaging the boot under its heel portion, whereby sliding of the slide means in a direction towards the ski causes the bell-crank lever to pivot about the fulcrum to apply a lifting force to the boot heel.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the slide means further comprises, slide rods fixed to the stationary frame, said cylinder having guide means for the first member, a screw drive engaging a stationary nut mounted on the stationary frame, said nut being in driving connection with the cylinder, and an actuating hand wheel for moving said screw drive to move said slide means.

4. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the slide means further comprises slide rods fixed to the stationary frame, said cylinders having guide means for the first member, a hand lever articulated on the stationary frame about a horizontal axis normal to the slideway direction of the cylinder, said hand lever cooperating at its articulated end with a pinion meshing with a rack on the cylinder for the slide means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS CHARLES A. RUEHL, Primary Examiner 

